Tensions are rising in the so-called ‘multi-party charter’ a pre-election pact aimed at unseating the ANC and preventing a possible EFF takeover.
On Monday EFF announced that it was to challenge the Democratic Alliance in a bid to force the official opposition to bind itself that it will not work with the ANC under any circumstances. This comes after the DA through its Leader John Steenhuisen and Federal Chairperson Helen Zille hinted at working with the liberation movement claiming this would be done to avoid it collaborating with the red berets an arrangement that the official opposition describes as “doomsday”.
Action SA National Chairperson Michael Beaumont wrote to party structures in what is the clearest indication that the ‘multi-party charter’ may split even before the elections.
The two parties also clashed over a survey syndicated in several publications which showed the DA support to be growing significantly while its competitors are presented as losing numbers.
“ The objection raised by ActionSA against these utterances has reminded our partners that ActionSA only became a signatory of the Multi-Party Charter on the condition that no vote for one of our parties could ever be used to keep the ANC in government,” said Beaumont in the letter.
Action SA also had the Press Council rule direct several media houses that published a survey suggesting the DA was growing while everyone was going down, to release details of the poll including which origins.
Beaumont believes the poll was sponsored by the DA itself and said the party will wait keenly for the information.
“ The fact that this poll is believed to have been produced by the DA is highly relevant given how its outcomes appear favourable almost exclusively to the DA.
The Press Council has ordered that the media outlets cited are, amongst other things, directed to add a prominent statement about the responsible organisation, indicating whether it is fully independent or has any direct stake in the upcoming election, as party or otherwise,” said Beaumont.
This week the two also clashed over the DA’s attack on opposition parties it accuses of campaigning against it in the Western Cape instead of focusing their resources in areas where the ANC and EFF are dominant.
